Becoming independent in 2017, the festival is a highlight of the queer community calendar in Brisbane, spotlighting stories which go beyond the binary.
For the 21st edition, audiences can expect bold, defiant and refreshingly authentic storytelling by and for the queer community. There are special collections for the niche and allies of Brisbane's queer community.
“We are always proud of the calibre, diversity and inclusiveness in the line-up of films. We’re not the largest festival, but our programme features films chosen especially for Brisbane’s queers, allies and cinephiles,” BQFF Co-Director Shanon King says.
“The opportunity to discover new voices within queer cinema, to be bold in our programming choices, and present the future of queer storytelling, were key elements in curating this year’s programme.”
The festival opens with Georgian filmmaker Levan Akin's 'And Then We Danced', a passionate coming-of-age film driven by the liberating power of dance.
Not to be missed is Sydney filmmaker Monica Zanetti’s new feature 'Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie's Dead Aunt)'. Featuring a star-studded Australian cast including Janet King alumni Marta Dusseldorp, Rachel House ('Thor: Ragnarok'), Julia Billington ('Mr. Inbetween') and Zoe Terakes ('Wentworth').
'Ellie & Abbie (& Ellie's Dead Aunt)'
Other programme highlights include Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Barnett's 'Changing The Game', sensual trans love story 'Port Authority', 'Young Hunter' following a brooding teen exploring his sexuality with a fellow skater, and Cambodian-British filmmaker Hong Khaou's second feature 'Monsoon'.
There are also two Australian premieres from the voices of future trans storytelling: Rhys Ernst's 'Adam', and Jessie Jeffrey Dunn Rovinelli's 'So Pretty'.
All together, there are 9 features, 3 shorts sessions, 5 documentaries, 2 free sessions, 13 Queensland premieres and 3 Australian premieres.
Part of the festival’s independence is in its recognition as a member of the Asia Pacific Queer Film Festival Alliance, making BQFF a peer of international queer film festival leaders such as Taiwan Queer Film Festival, Shanghai PRIDE film festival, Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and Seoul PRIDE Film Festival, and locals Sydney Mardi Gras Film Festival and Melbourne Queer Film Festival.
